College of Nursing Alumni Society Awards

We invite you to nominate a colleague for one of these awards to be presented at The Ohio State University College of Nursing recognition ceremony during Homecoming weekend in the fall.

View photos from this year's celebration

• Nomination period is open April 13 to June 13.
• Current members of the Alumni Society Board of Governors are not eligible for these awards. Previous recipients are not eligible for the same award.
• The next nomination period will open in April 2023.

Supporting documentation should be attached to the nomination form and includes:

• Nominating statement limited to three, single spaced pages.
• Letters of support, limited to three.
• Current curriculum vitae or resume.

College of Nursing Alumni Award

The College of Nursing Alumni Award is presented to a College of Nursing Alumni Society Board member who has demonstrated a sustained leadership role that is exemplified by exceptional leadership, regular participation, and encouragement of new ideas to meet the goals of the organization.

Current Award Recipient

Teresa A. DiMeo, MS, CNP (1986, 1993 MS) 

A two-time graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Teresa has spent her entire career of 36 years as a nurse then a nurse practitioner at the OSUWMC.  In her current role as a nurse practitioner at the Wexner Medical Center, she works in the Orthopedic Department at the Ohio State Hand and Upper Extremity Center, running independent clinics, patient management, first assisting in the operating room and research. She also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopedics. She enjoys precepting OSU nurse practitioner students, and other fellows and residents to stay current and active. She was the recipient of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practices Nurses (OAAPN) 2019 Award for Excellence in Ohio. Teresa is a board member of the College of Nursing Alumni Society Board of Directors, where she served as committee co-chair for the 2022 Wine Tasting fundraiser event. 

Past Award Recipients

2020	Peggy Agle
2021	Kristine Weiss Adams

Distinguished Alumna/us Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to an Ohio State College of Nursing graduate in recognition of and appreciation for exceptional achievement over their career. The recipient of this award exemplifies the mission and vision of the College of Nursing while providing inspiration for current students, faculty and alumni. Professional areas for consideration include one or more of the following: practice excellence, education, administration, professional writing, evidence-based practice, research or public service.

Current Award Recipients

Sally W. Morgan, MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, ACNS-BC (1977, 1989 MS) 

Sally Morgan’s illustrious career demonstrates consistent and sustained practice excellence, evidence-based practice, and public and professional service where she has been able to evoke positive change for nurses. She held various roles at the Medical Center, including clinical nurse specialist, patient care resource manager, nurse manager, and program director until her retirement as a nurse practitioner in September 2020. At OSUWMC Sally was honored many times for her practice excellence, receiving the Portraits in Professionalism Award, the Patient Education Award, and the Excellence in Staff Education Award to name a few. She was also a two-time winner of the Clinical Excellence Award. Sally is also the current president of the Franklin County Board of Health (2018-2023) where she serves nearly 480,000 residents, including many vulnerable populations, in working with the city health department and area health systems to protect public health. Sally has also provided exemplary leadership and service to several professional organizations including the American Nurses Association (ANA), the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA), and the Mid-Ohio District Nurses Association (MODNA). 

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Amy K. Spangler, MN, RN, IBCLC, FILCA (1971) 

Amy Spangler has received recognition internationally as a scholar, writer, speaker, advocate, and spokesperson for maternal and child health, especially in the area of lactation. Amy served as President for the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) for two years. She is also a strong advocate for education and practice excellence. After certifying as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), she started her own business to provide evidence-based lactation care to families in her community. Through her business, she wrote numerous books to educate families about breastfeeding. The books grew in popularity such that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that oversees the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition program for low-income families, distributes her books nationwide to WIC clinics, hospitals and public health clinics. She has also invested her time and energy into publications and public speaking that educate the lactation consultant profession. Amy’s professionalism, calm demeanor, respectful attitude towards anyone she works with and her compassion for people has enabled her to significantly impact the health and wellness of countless families and professionals. 

Past Award Recipients

1984	Patricia Sloan
1985	Mary Silva
1986	Mary Donohue
1987	Ella Kick
1988	Lois Johns
1989	Marie Collart Constance Collins Elaine Glass Ada Lindsey Mary MacVicar Kathryn Peppe Mary Perley Dorothea Rye Betty Schmoll Ethelrine Shaw-Nickerson
1990	Ellen Rudy
1991	Deborah Coleman Carol Jenkins
2000	Elizabeth Pitorak
2001	Kitty Kisker
2002	Beverly Hampton
2003	Kristine Campbell
2004	Lillian Bernhagen
2005	Suzanne DeWoody
2008	Jeffrey Jones Joan Wessman Clarann Weinert
2009	Kathryn Peppe
2010	Mary Ann Wilcox
2011	Phyllis Kaldor
2012	Danette Birkhimer
2013	Kathleen Lux
2014	100 Alumni Transformers
2015	Adele Webb
2016	Pamela Greene
2017	Cynthia Moore-Hardy
2018	Linda Amos
2019	Eric A. Yap
2020	Judy Ressallat
2021	Sandra Cornett Maureen Musto

Distinguished Recent Alumna/us Award

The Distinguished Recent Alumni Award is given to an Ohio State University (OSU) College of Nursing alumnus who has graduated within the past 10 years. This Award is in honor and appreciation of accomplishments that exemplify outstanding early career achievement in at least one of the following areas of Nursing: practice excellence, education, administration, evidence-based practice, research or commendable public service.

Past Award Recipients

2003	Jon Mickle
2004	Robin Rosselet
2005	Angie Overholt
2006	Theresa Skybo
2008	Andrew Betz
2009	Jodi McDaniel
2010	Jill Kilanowski
2011	Christopher Tod Brindle
2012	Pattama Ulrich
2013	Carrie Keib
2015	Denise Minor
2016	Sarah Meyer
2017	Stephen Roller
2018	Rebecca Taylor
2019	Tim Raderstorf
2020	Calli Cook
2021	Justin Kelly

Community Service Award

The Community Service Award is presented to an Ohio State College of Nursing graduate in honor of the significant contributions of time, actions, talents and dedication made to improve the health of the community (local, regional, national or global). The Awardee promotes the health of the community through sustained professional and/or volunteer work. The recipient serves as a model for compassion and service to others.

Current Award Recipient

Da’na M. Langford, MS, CNM (2009 MS) 

Da’na Langford first answered the call of underserved communities more than a decade ago and has led an inspiring response to eradicating racial and ethnic disparities through high quality direct patient care, community engagement, mentoring and teaching, and advocating for those in need. She has a multitude of experiences as a women’s health nurse practitioner and nurse-midwife at several facilities. Da’na has also served in several community and international organizations. She is an Executive Board Member of Babies Need Boxes Ohio, which seeks to provide a baby box to every child born in Ohio to reduce the risk of infant death. Da’na is the Founder and President of the BHS Black Alumni Association, which is dedicated to raising scholarship funding for deserving African American youth at her alma mater. She is also a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, which focused on citizenship and social service as well as Sigma Theta Tau International, which seeks to empower nurse leaders. Da’na has been a force of positive change in each and every community of which she has been a part.   

Past Award Recipients

2003	Margaret Flowers
2004	Jessie Pergrin
2005	Elsie Williams-Wilson
2006	Saundra Theis
2008	Debbie Cannon Freece
2009	Carol Baker
2010	Carol Prince
2011	Kitty Kisker
2015	John Welch
2016	Kristine Weiss Adams
2017	Janet Hussong
2018	Ann Marie Stalter-Justice
2019	Amy M. Provenzano
2020	Karen Lane
2021	Alexandria Jones

Mildred E. Newton Distinguished Educator Award

The Mildred E. Newton Distinguished Educator Award honors an Ohio State College of Nursing graduate who has served, or is currently serving, as an educator or dean of a nationally accredited college/school of nursing. The Awardee’s personal integrity, leadership, commitment to nursing education and advancement of nursing science has contributed significantly to the advancement of the nursing profession and the preparation of the next generation of nurses. The following exemplars will be considered: teaching, evidence-based practice, research, publication, leadership in the professional communities at the state, national or global levels, or public service.

Current Award Recipient

Ann M. Smith, PhD, APRN-ANP-BC, CRRN, FARN (1987, 1988 MS, 1995 PhD) 

Ann advances the practice of injury and violence prevention as an Associate Professor at Mt. Carmel College of Nursing. She was awarded the Doctorate-Prepared Researcher Role Award in 2005 and the Advanced Practice Nurse Award in 1999, by the Associaton of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN). In her role as Director of the Central Ohio Think First chapter, she has facilitated over a hundred and fifty presentations annually on injury prevention to teens in area high schools about the dangers of speed, seatbelts, distracted driving, and underage substance abuse. She has also presented at EMS Safety Day programs in the community setting. She has been awarded for the SafeKids Worldwide Halloween Grant and the American Academy of Pediatricians, “Put A Lid on It” Helmet Grant and “Store It Safe: Teen Suicide Prevention Program” lock box grant. Through these grants, she has distributed helmets to prevent traumatic brain injuries while riding bikes, reflective bags and zipper pulls to use on Trick or Treat night, and gun locks to reduce injuries as the result of violence. 

Past Award Recipients

2003	Ada Lindsey
2004	Marilyn Sommers
2005	Zaiga Kalnins
2006	Marilyn Rothert
2010	Davina Gosnell
2011	Karen Ahijevych
2012	Edna Menke
2013	Barbara Warren
2015	Jeri Milstead
2016	Susan Frazier
2017	Colleen Keller
2018	Betsy Frank
2019	Charold Lee Baer
2020	Janet S. Fulton
2021	Jeffrey Jones